Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 616 Zhao Bao Becomes an Official
Beijing.

Southwest bank of Taiye Lake.

The afternoon sun scorched the earth, and the cicadas chirped incessantly.

However, within this magnificent and ornate architectural complex on the shore, there seemed to be a secluded and desolate world of its own.

This place is the new residence that the current emperor built at great expense, by summoning the most skilled craftsmen in the land.

With its carved beams and painted rafters, golden tiles and vermilion walls, the continuous palaces shimmered with dazzling light under the clear blue sky, casting large, heavy, and oppressive shadows.

It is located on the second floor of an exquisite pavilion built by the water.

Outside the window, the Taiye Pond shimmered in the sunlight. A gentle breeze, carrying moist air, swept through the hall, dispelling some of the oppressive heat from the outside.

"Master, that's how it is..."

"We dare not conceal anything; every word is true. We beg Your Excellency to judge for yourself!"

Two eunuchs lay prostrate on the cool, polished gold-brick floor, their foreheads pressed against the ground, their posture as humble as dust.

The one at the front had all white hair and a thin, wiry body, and every inch of his demeanor exuded humility.

It was Cao Xian.

Following behind him was a young eunuch with rosy lips and white teeth.

Zhao Bao.

His head was bowed, and his posture was impeccable.

But the occasional glimpse of his gaze through the gaps in his bangs was like a poisoned dagger—cold, sharp, and carrying the ferocity and cunning of a wolf cub.

This is absolutely not the look a lowly eunuch or a slave should have!
They barely managed to crawl out of the bloody millstone of Burial Dragon Ridge, covered in the lingering smell of gunpowder and blood, and fled back to the center of this vortex of power without stopping.

At this moment, he was reporting to the figure hidden deep within the building, who had the power to control everything.

The direction in which they knelt was not empty.

Several eunuchs dressed in the official robes of the Imperial Censorate, their auras heavy and iron-like, stood on either side like cold statues, their sharp eyes sweeping over the two kneeling figures.

Behind them, a beaded curtain made of large pearls hung low, making a soft, crisp clinking sound in the breeze.

Behind the curtains is a spacious terrace that extends outwards.

Through the hanging curtains, one can vaguely see a tall and solitary figure on the terrace behind them.

The man sat upright on a throne carved from golden nanmu wood with a dragon design, his posture as straight as a pine tree, exuding an air of supreme elegance.

A hand adorned with exquisitely translucent jade finger sleeves is gracefully lifting a thin-walled jade porcelain teacup, sipping it slowly and deliberately.

The inside and outside of the beaded curtain seemed like two different worlds.

Did Cao Xian and Zhao Bao's report sink without a trace, or did it reveal a hidden undercurrent?

No one knows.

He remained silent, and the entire pavilion fell into a deathly stillness.

Time slipped by in an unsettling silence, and the noisy cicadas and melodious birdsong outside the window seemed like jarring noise.

Cold sweat silently soaked Cao Xian's forehead and clung stickily to his temples.

He dared not breathe, and could only press his forehead even deeper into the cold floor tiles.

Zhao Bao's kneeling figure appeared stiff, but only the subtle muscles in his back were taut imperceptibly.

I do not know how long it has been.

The old man behind the beaded curtain subtly but clearly flicked his fingertip with the hand adorned with a jade finger glove.

Like a stone thrown into a still lake!

A burly eunuch standing inside the pavilion immediately stepped forward, his voice cold and hard as iron, and he hissed at the two kneeling figures:

"The factory manager is tired, so get out of here!"

Cao Xian felt as if he had been granted a pardon and tried to get up as fast as he could.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Zhao Bao beside him, who remained kneeling on the spot as still as a rock!

"Zhao Bao!"

Cao Xian's heart tightened, and he almost growled in a low voice while secretly kicking Zhao Bao's shin.

however.

Instead of retreating, Zhao Bao suddenly straightened his back and, in an almost offensive manner, raised his voice clearly:
"Zhao Bao, a Class C Secret Agent of the Investigation Bureau, humbly begs for the Bureau Chief's grace!"

"I am willing to die for the factory, even if it means sacrificing my life!"

Although Gu Jinfu had promised to promote Zhao Bao to the position of head, Gu Jinfu was already dead, so that promise was nothing but a piece of waste paper.

At this moment, Zhao Bao is still the lowest-ranking Class C secret agent.

Upon hearing this, Cao Xian was terrified. The knee he had just raised slammed back to the ground, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

The eunuchs standing by suddenly changed their expressions, their eyes glaring at Zhao Bao like knives.

One of them was the same guard who had been at the gate earlier. His eyes flashed with a fierce light as he stepped forward, his voice as cold as iron.

"Insolence! You mere Class C spy, you're nothing but an ant! The fact that the factory has shown you such favor today is already a blessing from your ancestors!"

"Your failure to protect Her Majesty has resulted in Her Highness falling into the hands of thieves. You all deserve to die! The fact that the Grand Eunuch has not immediately skinned you alive is already an immense act of mercy!"

"You fool, how dare you dream of such a thing? Get out of here!"

As the last "Get out!" rang out, the eunuch, like an arrow released from a bow, kicked Zhao Bao in the chest with a fierce gust of wind!
This kick contained a vicious internal force, enough to shatter the sternum and rupture the internal organs of an ordinary strong man!

Cao Xianxin was in his throat.

Zhao Bao remained kneeling upright, neither dodging nor avoiding, and even kept his head respectfully bowed to the ground!
"Oh!"

A deep, muffled thud that sent chills down your spine!
It was like a heavy sandbag crashing into a hard rock!
A horrifying sight appeared!

Zhao Bao's body swayed slightly, but he remained as steady as a rock!

The eunuch who had kicked out in anger suddenly changed his expression.

His kick was like a kick to a red-hot anvil, and an overwhelming and terrifying recoil force shot straight up his leg bone and into his internal organs!

He groaned and staggered back five or six steps before barely managing to regain his balance.

Even after the eunuch stood still, one leg was still trembling slightly uncontrollably, and his gaze toward Zhao Bao was filled with disbelief, horror, and fear!

A mere Class C secret agent?!

How could someone possess such profound and unorthodox internal energy?!
"You audacious madman!!"

"How dare you act so arrogantly in front of the factory director?!"

Seeing this, the other eunuchs no longer hesitated and pointed, shouting angrily.

Several chilling and powerful auras, like tangible raging waves, erupted suddenly and instantly locked onto Zhao Bao!
hum!
The immense pressure caused Cao Xian, who was standing next to him, to collapse to the ground with a "plop," like a toad crushed by an invisible boulder, unable to move.

Zhao Bao, who was at the center of the vortex of energy, only tensed up slightly, but his face remained calm.

He didn't even look at the eunuchs who were on high alert. Instead, he turned his head slightly, his gaze piercing through the gap in the beaded curtain, and once again fell on that motionless back.

The old man's movements as he drank tea remained calm and unhurried.

It was as if everything happening inside the pavilion was nothing more than the clamor of ants, not worth a second glance.

Zhao Bao took a deep breath, lowered his head again, and spoke with an unusual calmness:

"This servant would rather die a thousand deaths than dare to show the slightest disrespect to the Grand Eunuch!"

"This journey to Burial Dragon Ridge was fraught with peril! The only reason I was able to crawl back was because I had only one thought in my mind—"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an almost obsessive fervor:

"I want to personally present the crucial information that I obtained with my life in that perilous place to Your Excellency, so as to repay even a fraction of Your Excellency's boundless grace!"

"This first piece of information concerns the whereabouts of the second volume of the *Yin Fu Long Tui Jing*..."

The words have not yet fallen.

suddenly!

"Eek! Hehehe!"

A sharp, distorted, eerie laugh, as if hundreds of poisonous insects were simultaneously hissing in Zhao Bao's cochlea, suddenly exploded in his brain!

His gaze flickered to his left shoulder out of the corner of his eye.

A face!

A chilling, aged face that only he could see appeared almost right next to his ear!

That face was as thin as a skeleton, with ashen, loose skin clinging to frighteningly high cheekbones, and deep-set, dark holes in its eye sockets, with two points of green light flashing in its pupils!
Its withered lips parted, revealing yellowed, badly worn teeth, and exhaled a putrid, swampy stench:
"Hehehehe... Well done, Zhao Bao!"

The sticky, delirious murmurs, like spider silk laced with venom, entangled Zhao Bao's thoughts:

"That dog emperor... um... and this old eunuch, the most loyal servant of the emperor, things they've spent their entire lives dreaming of! Who could resist such temptation?!"

"Zhao Bao! Use this bait to lure him! Then... bite that old beast to death!"

The other side.

The same sticky, yet even more venomous female voice seemed to emerge from a crack in the deepest hell, carrying a gnashing hatred akin to grinding teeth and sucking blood:
“Kill him…kill this old castrated dog! Tear his dog face apart! Drain his heart and liver…feed them…feed them to the maggots…”

"And the emperor! That damned emperor! Drag him off the throne! Skin him alive! Three thousand six hundred cuts... not a single cut less... peel his skin off!"

Zhao Bao's face remained completely expressionless.

The backs of the two eerie old men and women were strangely connected to Zhao Bao's back.

The three formed a twisted and terrifying conjoined monster!

Zhao Bao had long been used to the presence of the old man and the old woman.

He didn't know that the two of them were real ghosts.

Or something else entirely.

Zhao Bao could not shake them off, and no one else could see them.

But Zhao Bao could use them.

From them, Zhao Bao obtained the power he so desperately craved.

At the same time, they also discovered some unknown secrets of this world.

By making good use of these secrets, Zhao Bao can get everything he wants.

Now is the time to use them to pry open this door to the heart of power!
really!

The moment the words "The Lower Volume of the Yin Fu Long Tui Jing" were uttered—

The dignified figure behind the beaded curtain, who had always been so composed, finally froze in motion.

For the first time, the hand holding the teacup, adorned with a jade finger cot, paused.

Then, with extremely slow and steady movements, the hand gently placed the priceless, thin-walled jade porcelain cup back onto the rosewood table, making a barely audible sound that was enough to snap everyone's heartstrings.

No extra words.

The eunuchs surrounding the beaded curtain seemed to have received an imperial decree. Their expressions were a mixture of surprise and extreme awe. They bowed and, in perfect unison, reached out their hands to carefully part the heavy beaded curtain.

In an instant, the sound of the beaded curtains clashing together rang out, like celestial music, yet also like a death knell.

On the terrace, the old man who had been facing away from everyone finally turned around slowly.

The old man's face was powdered, yet it had a bluish-gray tinge. His cheeks were sunken, as if carved by a knife and axe. His brow bones were high and extended into his temples. When his phoenix eyes were half-closed, they seemed to conceal a bottomless, icy pool.

He wore a black gauze winged crown, the golden python pattern on it making him look extremely majestic, and a blood jade inlaid badge of the police station hung from the jade belt at his waist.

The Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department! The Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial! The Emperor's most trusted attendant! The "Nine Thousand Years Old," wielding immense power in the court—Wang Jin!
An invisible pressure, like a real iceberg, crashed down! Zhao Bao kept his head down, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, as if it would explode!

He could clearly feel those two icy gazes falling on his back, chilling him to the bone, yet making him tremble all over!
This tremor did not stem from fear, but from an almost frenzied excitement!
at last!

Those eyes, perched atop the pinnacle of power, finally fell upon him!
Even if it's just for a moment, it's the ladder he's been dreaming of!

opportunity!

The opportunity he'd waited his whole life for! It's here!
Wang Jin's lips didn't move; she simply raised her hand, adorned with a jade finger sheath, with an extremely slight yet undeniable upward motion.

A silent command, yet carrying immense weight.

All the menacing and imposing eunuchs inside the pavilion, like puppets, bowed without hesitation and filed out swiftly and silently.

Cao Xian struggled to his feet, bowed deeply, and staggered backward, never daring to look up at anyone.

The heavy palace doors groaned as they slowly closed.

In the blink of an eye, the once magnificent and grand pavilion was now empty except for Wang Jin by the beaded curtain and Zhao Bao kneeling on the golden bricks, as humble as dust.

"explain."

Wang Jin's voice finally rang out.

Like the friction of ice, it is low and gentle, devoid of any emotion, yet it carries an absolute power that governs life and death.

Zhao Bao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, his voice carrying just the right amount of awe and excitement:
"Reporting to the Eunuch, after extensive investigation and risking my life, I have discovered that the second volume of the *Yin Fu Long Tui Jing* has fallen into the hands of the Taiping Dao's demon leader—the Great Virtuous Teacher!"

"Please allow me to report the details in detail..."

Zhao Bao's voice echoed in the empty pavilion.
His words were a mix of truth and falsehood, carefully crafted.

He learned from the old man and woman on his back that the mysterious and unpredictable Great Teacher could come and go freely in the forbidden area, and that the second volume had most likely fallen into his hands.

At this moment, all he needs to do is carefully package this "fact," embellish it, and turn it into "ironclad evidence" that is enough to ignite Wang Jin's desires!
This was his bargaining chip for gaining immense power!
The humiliating scene on Burial Dragon Ridge involuntarily flashed through my mind.

I felt like an insect being trampled underfoot by the Great Teacher, groveling for survival, utterly devoid of dignity...

That deep-seated hatred surged up instantly, making Zhao Bao's teeth itch with rage.

……

Outside the pavilion, the sun blazed fiercely.

Cao Xian and several eunuchs who had left stood with their hands at their sides under the carved beams and painted rafters of the corridor, like clay sculptures and wooden statues, not daring to wipe away the sweat that dripped down their temples.

The hall was deathly silent, and they dared not make any peeking moves, even deliberately slowing their breathing.

The air was as heavy as solidified lead.

Cao Xian's heart felt like it was being fried in a pan of oil.

Zhao Bao... he really did keep it from him!
Zhao Bao didn't mention a word about the "Yin Fu Long Tui Jing" to him!

He knew that Zhao Bao was becoming increasingly unscrupulous in his pursuit of power.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Bao no longer took him seriously at all.

In the end, I became the stepping stone for this ambitious young wolf to climb higher.

This isn't the first time!

On Burial Dragon Ridge, Zhao Bao bypassed him right under his nose, climbed up to Gu Jinfu, and even got involved with the princess.

If he hadn't been soft-hearted and spoken up for Zhao Bao, Zhao Bao wouldn't have gained Gu Jinfu's trust.

A chill and bitterness welled up in Cao Xian's heart.

Without his guidance, Zhao Bao, as a low-ranking secret agent, wouldn't even have been able to step through the door of the new residence, let alone meet the Grand Eunuch.

However, Cao Xian also knew that Zhao Bao was now a third-rank martial artist, a level of strength that he could no longer suppress.

Even without Cao Xian's recommendation, Zhao Bao would still be able to make a name for himself in the police station in a year or two, thanks to his exceptional martial arts skills.

He is too old.

At his age, he knew that his career had come to an end and he could no longer climb higher.

Therefore, his greatest wish is to be able to spend his old age in peace.

However, it's not easy to spend one's old age peacefully in the police station.

Those who engage in shady dealings are often very likely to meet a violent end.

Therefore, he kept a low profile and was content to be an instructor at Zongwu Academy. He would never go on such dangerous field missions unless ordered by his superiors.

He saw Zhao Bao as a talented person and began to cultivate him and give him opportunities.

Consider it an investment; if Zhao Bao becomes successful in the future, he can help Cao Xian live out his old age in peace.

However, Zhao Bao's progress was even faster than he had anticipated.

Today marks Zhao Bao's leap over the dragon gate.

Success means soaring to the heavens; failure means...

Cao Xian dared not even think about it.

Zhao Bao had hidden too much from him, and he could no longer make a judgment.

Everything depends on Zhao Bao's life and the value of the secret he spoke of.

suddenly!

A very faint tapping sound came from inside the pavilion, like a finger cot lightly tapping the table.

The eunuchs standing there tensed up, and two of them immediately pushed open the door and entered.

Cao Xian's heart jumped into his throat.

A moment later, footsteps sounded again.

The eunuch who had kicked Zhao Bao earlier came out, his face no longer showing any arrogance, but instead displaying a complex expression that mixed reverence and obsequiousness.

He stood at the doorway, cleared his throat, and announced in an exceptionally clear voice, loud enough for the entire corridor to hear:

"Class C Agent Zhao Bao, in the battle of Burial Dragon Ridge, faced danger without fear, ventured deep into perilous territory, and uncovered top-secret information! His loyalty and bravery are commendable, and his achievements are outstanding!"

"Governor-General's decree: The position of Third Supervisor of the Investigation Department is vacant. Zhao Bao is hereby promoted to Third Supervisor of the Investigation Department! This is to recognize his merits. It is hoped that he will work diligently and make new contributions!"

boom!
This announcement struck Cao Xian like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!

He looked up abruptly, almost thinking he had misheard!
Three gears?!

Zhao Bao?!
From the lowest and most insignificant Class C secret agent, he rose to become one of the four most powerful heads of the intelligence agency?!
This is an unprecedented and astonishing promotion!
The four chiefs of the Criminal Investigation Bureau held high positions and wielded great power; they were living Yama kings who could make even the most powerful officials in the imperial court tremble with fear!

The body of the previous Third Rank Leader, Gu Jinfu, is barely cold. The position of Third Rank Leader should be filled by seniority, martial arts skills, and close confidants. There is no way it should be given to Zhao Bao, who has no connections!

Behind this rocket-like rise, just how terrifyingly valuable is the secret Zhao Baoxian revealed?

How could someone as cunning and calculating as Wang Jin make an exception for him?!
Looking at the undisguised shock, jealousy, and deep fear that quickly surfaced in the eyes of the eunuchs beside him, Cao Xian felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

At this moment, the pavilion door opened again.

Zhao Bao came out.

He was still wearing the same low-level spy uniform, but his entire demeanor had undergone a complete transformation!

The deliberately suppressed humility between his brows vanished, replaced by a sharp, spirited look of someone newly in power.

And a hint of smugness that had not yet been fully concealed.

A faint smile played on his lips as he swept his gaze over the crowd with a condescending scrutiny.

The eunuch who read the imperial edict immediately put on an extremely obsequious smile, bowing so low he almost broke:
"Congratulations, Director Zhao! Congratulations on your promotion, Director Zhao!"

He strode forward, his posture humble:
"I was blind and ignorant before, and I have offended you greatly! I beg you, Manager Zhao, to be magnanimous and not hold my poor eyesight against me!"

He was arrogant at first and obsequious at second, completely different from someone else.

Zhao Bao merely glanced at him indifferently, his gaze as if he were looking at an ant, not even bothering to waste a single emotion.

The eunuch was not annoyed at all; on the contrary, he became even more respectful and turned to hand a document bearing the scarlet seal of the Grand Eunuch to the pale-faced Cao Xian:
"Eunuch Cao, this is the eunuch's order. I would like to trouble you to take Chief Zhao to the government office to handle the handover of the official seal and waist tag."

"I have to serve the eunuch here, I really can't be in two places at once."

This is the emperor's new residence.

The official offices of the Imperial Investigation Bureau were located in the palace, next to the Directorate of Ceremonial, and were the central hub for the emperor's daily administrative affairs.

Zhao Bao still needs to complete the formalities at the yamen before he can officially take office.

Cao Xian took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions surging within him, and respectfully bowed to receive the document:

"Yes, slaves obey."

When they arrived, Cao Xian was in front and Zhao Bao was behind, like a master and his servant.

When they arrived, Zhao Bao strode ahead with his head held high, while Cao Xian followed half a step behind, keeping pace with him, his posture respectful.

The identities have been reversed.

Zhao Bao strode ahead, his gaze no longer lowered.

When I arrived, I felt that this new house was as deep as the sea and as imposing as a prison, and I dared not take a second look at it.

At this moment, he walked among them as the most powerful of the three, finally able to freely observe the ultimate wealth and power in the world.

Everywhere you look, there is nothing but extravagance and debauchery!

The palaces stretched endlessly, resplendent in gold and jade.

Exotic flowers and rare herbs abound in the garden, where rare birds and animals roam freely: a magnificent tiger dozes in its iron cage, a snow-white Siamese elephant swings its long trunk, a peacock with beautiful plumage displays its tail feathers as if no one else is around, and a falcon perches on a golden perch, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings...

The melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifted in from an unknown source, penetrating to the very core of one's being; in a fleeting glimpse, one could see a stunningly beautiful dancer in light gauze dress gracefully dancing on a distant waterside pavilion, her movements so enchanting that she seemed like a celestial being.

The palace maids encountered along the way, whether carrying dishes or sweeping, were all exceptionally beautiful, far surpassing the palace's so-called "beauties" who were merely nominal...

Zhao Bao's gaze swept over the exquisite and rare artifacts he couldn't name, feeling the gleaming gold bricks beneath his feet, and the strange fragrance of precious wood mixed with cosmetics lingering in his nostrils...

All of this challenged his previous perception of the land as barren as a desert.

He suddenly remembered his past struggles for survival, like a maggot.

At the age of ten, his family was destroyed and he was left to wander the streets, competing with stray dogs for food. He endured the deepest humiliation and trampling in the world. In the end, for half a piece of spoiled bread, he castrated himself and became the lowest servant in the palace.

Even after entering the palace, he was still a dog, barely surviving amidst whippings, scoldings, and endless contempt.

Only when he was with Brother Jin and Xiaolian did he briefly experience a touch of human warmth.

Now... he has finally risen to prominence! So much so that he can now walk freely in this new mansion that belongs exclusively to the emperor!

His life was like crawling through a dark and cold abyss, and now he has suddenly been thrown to the top of heaven!

The intense sensory impact and stark contrast caused Zhao Bao to experience an almost dizzying sense of unreality.

A flame, a mixture of intense longing, deep-seated resentment, and insane ambition, burned fiercely in his chest!

"So this is what life is like for the elite..."

This is the kind of life where you trample the most luxurious enjoyment in the world under your feet!

This kind of life—with beauties by your side, treasures as plentiful as mountains, human life as worthless as grass, and everything you can take—is truly amazing!

Zhao Bao's Adam's apple bobbed, and the greedy glint in his eyes almost overflowed:
"The emperor lives here, and his close advisors also live here..."

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, causing a slight stinging pain, but it also made him more alert.

"I, Zhao Bao... will one day live here!"

This thought, like a red-hot iron nail, pierced deep into his very marrow:
"must be able to!"

(End of this chapter)